THE COLONIST. FRIDAY, MAY 18, 1917. THE SHIPPING REQUISITION.

Colonist, Volume LVIII, Issue 14407, 18 May 1917, Page 4

THE COLONIST. FRIDAY, MAY 18, 1917. THE SHIPPING REQUISITION.

Txik extension of the Imperial Government's scheme for the control of shipping to the outlying parts of the Empire was only a; matter of time, and therefore the requisitioning of the New Zealand Shipping Company's fleet, announced this1 week, occasions no surprise. It was announced in March last that the new policy was to have Empire-wide application, and thatj the British- Government bad made a general requisition of all liner tonnage, on what is known as Conference lines,' which serve India, Australia, South Africa and South America. It was understood that this extended control scheme was intended to deal systematically with practically tfce whole British tonnage, bringing it under the Shipping Controller. The effect of the measure on the trade of the Dominion is naturally viewed with considerable anxiety. The 'services in which the oversea-owned ships will be utilised is not, of course, known, but it has-to be recognised that in deciding this question Imperial war necessities must be j the prime factor and not the particular interests of any portion of the Empire. An optimistic view seems to be taken in Christchurch, where the step was announced. The general manager of the New Zealand Shipping Company said he did not think it was probable that all the vessels concerned would be taken off the New Zealand trado. The president of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce took the same view, presuming that New Zealand would be assured of its quota of shipping. The vesels, apparently, would be used only for the conveyance of necessaries. All New Zealand's staple products1 were necessaries, and she still could supply the Old Country with large quantities of them. Perhaps this Dominon wet Id fare bett-er under the new scheme than under the old conditions. At any rate he did not think the change would have a very great effect on New Zealand^ It will be well, however, , for Dominion interests not to build on any "quota" arrangement being adopted, though no doubt if at all possible that system will be followed to some extent. New Zealand's distance from the Old Country will militate against a quota system in rer case fitting in with the most effective use of the ships, which will require them to be run to the nearest countries in whict tjie tupplies required are available. It is quite true that the Dominion's exports are necessaries of the kind most needcd>in the United Kingdom, and that they will be lifted as frequently as possible there "is no doubt. But in our view tie requisition is an intimation that we must look for a ?onsid-3i-able further curtailment of the present overseas shipping facilities until cl-c submarine problem has been effectively grappled with, and its extent will be decided by tho degree in which the United Kingdom's requirements can be met by the sources of supply lying nearest to it.